162 J. B. CLELAND. 
MEANS oF COMBATING THE PLAGUE OF MICE. 
There are two objects to be achieved in endeavouring ta 
control such a phenomenal increase of mice as that re- 
cently experienced. One is to protect from their attacks 
material likely to be destroyed by them, the other to reduce 
their numbers so that the remainder are relatively harm- 
less. Some methods achieve to a varying feete: both these 
results, others one only. 
From the information available the following deductions 
may be drawn :—Loose wheat cannot be attacked by mice 
except at its periphery—they cannot burrow into its depths, 
as the weight of grain would compress them and they would 
be deprived of air. Bagged wheat, on the contrary, as long 
as sufficient bags were intact, would offer a reticulation of 
crevices and interstices for ingress and egress of the mice. 
The most efficient means of overcoming the ravages due 
to mice is by the removal of the grain to areas relatively 
mouse-free, and there storing it under adequate protective 
conditions. In Victoria, the Port of Melbourne offers such 
facilities, and the aim of the authorities there, ably assisted 
by the Railway Service, has been to convey clean grain 
thither as soon as possible. In New South Wales, the prob- 
lem has been complicated by the ravages of weevils in the 
neighbourhood of Sydney, and consequently depots had to 
be opened at suitable country centres instead. 
Clean bagged wheat can be efficiently protected from 
mice by surrounding it with a low, but effectively-con- 
structed, galvanised iron fence. If a double fence, as in 
Mr. England’s device, be adopted, the mice already in the 
stack can be materially reduced in numbers, and outside 
mice in large quantities can be trapped and destroyed— 
thus lessening the general risk to the locality. By the 
double-fence both objects aimed at, protection of grain and 
diminution of mice, are achieved. 
